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Boston Red Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia (39) is congratulated by David Ross after their 10-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game, Sunday, June 9, 2013 at Fenway Park in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A few hours before the draft began last week and Boston took Trey Ball out of Indiana with the No. 7 pick, Red Sox catcher David Ross ventured to the war room at Fenway Park.

He wasn't the only one. Sox manager John Farrell popped in at some point last week, as did first-base coach Arnie Beyeler and bench coach Torey Lovullo. Even first-year bullpen catcher Brian Abraham — a product of St. John's high school in Shrewsbury, Mass., who quietly has many duties beyond warming pitchers up — took a peek.

Why? Because Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington and the rest of the front office wanted to give a glimpse to some of his staff of a side of the game they that might not otherwise see.

"Ben Cherington mentioned to the staff, 'Any time you want to come up and get a little background on what we do and how we prepare for it, you guys are welcome,'" said Lovullo, who went Wednesday, a day before the draft. "A number of the staff members took advantage of it."

Ross heard Lovullo talking about the room and said, "Man, that'd be cool to go up there." Lovullo shot a text message to someone in the room and just like that, Ross made his way over.

He said he spent "30 minutes, just kind of chilling, seeing what it's all about."

"They just showed me how they categorize things, showed how they watch video and talk and report," Ross said. "All the information they gather."

Everyone who went up was taken back by the level of preparation that was obvious just by walking in and hearing the discussion between the front office people and scouts. Ross said he spent 30 minutes in the room.

"I think it was a nice little break for them having a player up there," Ross said. "Way different (than what I expected). Way more preparation. Way more that goes into it than what you realize. Those guys cover every angle. Names, a lot of boards with a lot of names. Just how those decisions — I don't think they really talked about what decisions, they just had, this is our top board, this is our second board, how they categorize it. It was cool listening to the guys talk."

Abraham was an original member of Toronto's advance scouting department under former Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi, and worked with Sox manager John Farrell in Toronto. Still, he's in only his first year with the Sox, and Abraham appreciated that the front office would allow him that kind of a look.

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino came by, as did chief operating officer Sam Kennedy. There were conference calls with some amateur scouts, players reviewed.

"I think they go out of their way to make people feel comfortable," Abraham said. "It was cool, I had never been there, never had the opportunity do it in Toronto. All the guys were in there. ... It's just interesting to see everyone together."

Said Lovullo: "They were talking about one particular pitcher (that the Sox did not draft), they were doing a thorough job of researching. I was really impressed at the level that, the degree in which they went and did their research. They didn't overlook any area, they were very thorough with their conversations and gathering information to get a real good analysis of the pitcher, the guy and the future."

When Ross is done playing, don't be surprised if he sticks around as a manager or front-office member.

"I think that would be cool after I'm done playing," Ross said of a front-office gig. "Right now I'm focused on playing, but I think that's a real neat side."

Has he put serious thought to managing or working in a front office?

"I don't think I've put serious thought to it, but I definitely would love — as catcher I'm kind of managing any way," Ross said. "I love listen to John, listening to the coaches. I always kind of stay down their side of the dugout and listen. I love being around the game, I love being around the guys. It's definitely something in the back of my mind."